A wide roadway then took the visitor past the curved southern end of the amphitheatre, a walk of about 100 metres (328.1 feet), and revealed a breathtaking new vista. The architects and engineers had cunningly used the topography of the granite cliff of La Croix-Rousse towering 254 metres (833.3 feet) above Condate, removing part of a lower ledge and levelling it to create a huge raised runway-like platform. The frontage road swung out to the right and up the incline of a long ramp, and continued down on the other side, over a total distance of 1,000 Roman feet.¹⁶⁶ The apex of the double ramp was flattened into a platform upon which stood the altar to Rome and Augustus (Roma et Augustus). We have a good idea of the appearance of the imperial cult altar because the mint at Lugdunum produced from that time on great quantities of bronze coins that show it (plate 28).¹⁶⁷ The front south-facing frieze of the altar was decorated with the corona civica – the military decoration of an oak wreath awarded to citizens who had saved the life of another recognising the one given to Augustus for ending the civil wars – flanked by laurels.¹⁶⁸ On each of the opposite east and west sides of the altar were likely hung copies of the clupeus virtutis, the gleaming golden shields inscribed with Augustus’ virtues of courage, clemency, justice and piety. The coins show just two columns flanking the altar. These may have been integral parts of the altar but an alternative hypothesis is that the columns were freestanding and positioned in front, or on each side of the altar.¹⁶⁹ One theory suggests there were actually four columns arranged at the corners of the square platform, in which case the second row of columns in the stylized image on the coins is obscured by the front row.¹⁷⁰ Each column, with its base and capital, is estimated to have risen to a height of 10.5 metres (34.4 feet).¹⁷¹ Surmounting each column capital was a winged Victory. A delicate statuette of a winged Victory measuring just 28 centimetres (11.0 inches) was retrieved from the Saône in 1866 and it offers a good impression of the high level of craftsmanship invested in the statues surmounting the columns of the sanctuary.¹⁷² Balancing on one foot balletically and turned to face the other, each Victory clutched a circular wreath over the altar. Remarkably a fragment of one of the gilded bronze laurels held by a Victory statue was found in 1961 at the corner of Rue des Fantasques and Rue Grognard.¹⁷³ The diameter of the laurel is 46 centimetres (18.1 inches) and from this it has been estimated that each statue stood to a height of 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) – nearly twice the life size of a typical Roman – making it clear they were intended to be seen from a distance and to impress. Covered in gold leaf, in the sunlight these statues would have sparkled against the backdrop of the drab stone of the adjacent the cliff face.

The upper level platform accessed by the ramps measured 235 metres (770.1 feet) long by 69 metres (226.4 feet) wide.¹⁷⁴ Running along the length of the front edge of the raised platform was a drain, part of which was uncovered in 1827 when enhancements were made to the Church of St Polycarpe. It measures 1.57 metres (5.2 feet) wide by 2.13 metres (7.0 feet) high and is believed to be part of the pedestal of the altar.¹⁷⁵ The rear of the platform was lined with a terrace upon which statues stood along its entire length. On the Roman coins that show the altar, there are also indistinct blobs just above the line of the altar. The only written reference – by Strabo – states that the names of all sixty nations of the Tres Galliae were inscribed on the terrace and nearby were sixty corresponding statues.¹⁷⁶ All of Gaul was represented here. In the spirit of a public event, in front of the complex was a large open space from which the local population and visitors from afar could watch the proceedings.

Key to the future success of the concilium Galliarum concept was the priestly college formed to organise the annual festival. With only a limited number of positions open annually, there was intense competition for them and great prestige awaited those few who were selected. The first of the line of sacerdotes Augusti was elected from among the Aedui nation from the vicinity of Lugdunum. His name was G. Iulius Vercondaridubnus and his cognomen suggests that he, or his father, had been granted Roman citizenship either under Caesar or Augustus.¹⁷⁷ Nothing is known of the ceremony that took place that day under his direction, but it almost certainly included all the ceremonial elements of a public sacrifice, with prayers and incantations. The officials likely gathered at the foot of the sanctuary and then made their way in procession (pompa) up the east ramp.¹⁷⁸ The representatives of the concilium then assembled on the platform behind the altar to witness the rite and, once completed, then walked in procession down the west ramp to the amphitheatre to take their seats in the coveted first few rows. On that inauguration day, the ritual was probably led by Iulius Vercondaridubnus himself and accompanied by his guests of honour.¹⁷⁹ These included Augustus, Tiberius and Drusus, and probably their wives too. While Drusus was campaigning in Germania, Augustus and Tiberius had returned to Lugdunum.¹⁸⁰ The presence of the princeps and the former governor indicates just how important an occasion they considered the inauguration ceremony to be. Augustus also maintained a deep interest in the German War and wanted to be closer to the front to receive news of progress.¹⁸¹ Hardly had he arrived, when Tiberius’ visit was interrupted by news of a rebellion in Pannonia caused by complaints over payment of tribute and he immediately left to deal with it.¹⁸² After successfully restoring order to the troubled province, he returned again to the preëminent Gallic city where he joined Augustus and Drusus, fresh in from Germania, for the opening ceremony. As Providence would have it, on 1 August Antonia gave birth to another child (Stemma Drusorum no.15). Drusus named him after his brother, Ti. Claudius Nero.¹⁸³ The happy family event must have greatly added to the excitement and joy of this memorable occasion.

With the celebrations concluded, Drusus decided not to return to the front but went instead with his stepfather and brother directly to Rome.¹⁸⁴ For the remainder of the season, Drusus’ legates would conduct operations on their own initiative.